The 52 state parks of Arkansas comprise one of the finest systems of parks and museums in the nation. Display your pride in this park system that you own as a citizen of this great state, and help provide college scholarships for the next generation of park professionals, by purchasing a specialty license plate featuring Arkansas State Parks. The new license plate just premiered and is available for Arkansans to purchase at the Office of Motor Vehicles. (more)

Treat your family to a museum trip on us -

In addition to experiencing unique natural and historic sites preserved in Arkansas’s state parks, visitors can also explore outstanding museum collections and see state-of-the-art exhibits in park visitor centers. According to State Parks Director Greg Butts, “At many Arkansas State Parks museums and several exhibit galleries in park visitor centers, we previously charged a small admission fee. Beginning this year, admission fees will no longer be charged for access to state park museums and exhibit galleries.” (more)

You'll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful golf course -

The 27-hole, Andy Dye signature golf course at Village Creek State Park will reopen on May 4. According to Arkansas State Parks Director, Greg Butts, "The rolling terrain of Crowley's Ridge, dramatic elevation changes and the backdrop of the surrounding hardwood forest combine for an aesthetically pleasing and challenging level of play at this championship public course."

Queen Wilhelmina Lodge gets a facelift -

Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge atop 2,681-foot Rich Mountain, Arkansas’s second highest mountain, has closed to undergo a $6.7 million renovation, according to State Parks Director Greg Butts. The lodge will reopen in summer 2013. Butts said, “The improvements to the current lodge, a 38-room hostelry that opened by the State of Arkansas in 1975, should receive rave reviews when the lodge reopens.” He noted that the lodge’s enhancements will include all new windows which will be much larger to frame the views from atop Rich Mountain. Camping, trails and other facilities in the park remain open. (more)